It is a quiet time of year on the farm and it is nice to be able to relax a bit and enjoy more leisure time.  What has become a regular event over the winter months is the annual “Potato Wars” which is held at The Grapes Inn.  A number of local potato growers each take a sample of potatoes to The Grapes where they are washed and made into chips.  Bowls of chips are then taken round the customers for a blind tasting and the sample voted as the best chips is awarded a trophy and has the privilege of supplying The Grapes with potatoes for the next year.  Those taking part this year were Alex Lange, Stephen Rooke, Andrew Wilson, Stuart Prest and The Sparrow family.  The winner was Stuart Prest and he was presented with the trophy by Trudy Carr.

 CONSERVATION

When walking round my fields just before Christmas I was delighted to see 8 swans on one of my small ponds.  I didn’t have my camera with me at the time so I went back the next morning which was a bright frosty morning and was able to take some pictures of them.  They were obviously feeding on pond weed and they stayed for a couple of days or so before moving on.  A couple of days later I saw a herd of 7 Roe deer in one field and 3 in another field.  Their numbers are increasing year by year and they are a lovely sight.

Malton & Norton Lions Club deliver fish, chips and peas at the subsidised rate of £3 per person for the elderly and disabled.

Delivery dates are Tuesdays the 14th Nov., 12th Dec., 9th Jan., 13th Feb., and 13th March.  They are collected from Peasey Hill at 11-45am and delivered to Slingsby at approx 12 noon for delivery round the village.

If you would like to order them please contact Stephen Prest on 628277 or Trudy Carr on 628302 or e-mail [email protected]